Merchandise vending machine



Feb. 16, 1932. A. A. KNEE MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 16, 1932. A. A. KNEE 1,845,879

MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, I928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 16, 1932'. A A. KNEE MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE 5 She ets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 24. 1 28 llnllll IIIIIIIIIIA IlIl/Illlllll ifl .n 1

Feb. 16, 1932. A. A.'KNEE 1,845,879

MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 16, 1932. A. A. KNEE 1,845,879

MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 'Y Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AARON A. KNEE, 01? CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNCR TO THE LANCE PACK- ING COMPANY, 01 CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Application filed November, 1918. Serial 'No. 821,582.

This invention relates to a vending machine and more especially to a vending machine for vending one at a time packages which are secured to each other by means of a severable strip of paper or other suitable material.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine for vending paper bags filled with peanuts, said bags being secured to each other by means of a continuous strip of paper being pasted to one side of all the bags, thus securing the bags with their contiguous edges being in close proximity to each other, with means for severing a bag from the remainder l of the bags and delivering the same to the exterior of the machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine for vending articles, said articles being secured in close proximity to each other along a continuous ribbon of paper storing a quantity of the bags and means for delivering the bags through the machine to a point where a movable knife will sever one of the bags from the ribbon and allow the same to be delivered to the exterior of the machine.

I am aware that heretofore various vending machines have been devised for the sale of cigars, collar buttons and various other articles, said articles being secured in a continuous strip, but said machines are not adapted for vending sealed bags filled with bulk edibles. such as peanuts and various other kinds oi nuts and bulk edibles.

Some of the objects of my invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine,

partially in cross-section, and being taken along the line 1-1 in Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a plan view of my machine with the coverto said machine removed and the supporting means for the ribbon of bags also being removed;

Figure 3 is a side elevation taken from the same point as Figure 1, showing only one end of the machine, but with the parts in a difl'erent position;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of my machine, taken along the line 44 in Figure 1, showing the knife and pusher taken out of their proper position in the grooves and projecting upwardly in order to show the bottom of said mechanism;

Figure 5 is an end view of the severing means, taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional View, taken along the line 66 in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a view of the lower pusher member shown in Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a perspective View of my machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the bottom portion of my machine which has the side portions 11 and 12, the back portion 13 and the front end of the bottom portion is bent downwardly as at 14 and is adapted to fit against the edge of a counter, while the vacuum cup members 15 and .16 are adapted to prevent the same from sliding when resting on the counter, but I desire it tobe understood that the member 14 may be dispensed with and, by means of suitable fastening devices, this vending machine may be secured in vertical position with the bottom member 10 being in vertical position and secured to a wall or other object.

The top member 17 of my machine is pivoted on each side of the machine, as at 18, and projects upwardly in close proximity to the front end of the machine and has the gasket 19 to seal the front end of the machine and by means of the members 20 the pane of glass 21 is secured in position, said pane of glass covering the entire top of the machine, both on the sides and ends as shown in Figure 1. At the other end of the top member 17 there is the pivoted hasp 22 which fits over the staple 23 secured in the member 13 and the padlock 24 is adapted to lock the top in position. This top member 17 has gaskets such as shown at 19 on its junction with the side walls at all points.

Secured between the side walls by means of bolts 25 and 26 are the members 27 and 28 which are spaced apart from each other to form a'slot 29 through which the pusher projects, as will be later described. These members fit snugly against the gasket 19 so as to seal the inside of the casing to prevent the entrance of air and moisture which have a drying effect on the peanuts.

In the upper rear interior portion of the machine are the bearing members 30 and 31 in which the reel 32 is mounted, and below this reel is the large compartment 33 in which the ribbon of bags is adapted to be stored and the partition 34 is secured to the bottom member 10 and extends from one side wall to the other and is bent backwardly as at 35, at which points the leaf-springs 36 are secured by means of rivets 37 and the ends of these springs project backwardly as at 38 and 39 and the movable support 40 has eyes 41 and 42 secured on the bottom thereof into which the portions 38 and 39 are adapted to fit, said bottom member being adapted to resiliently support the bags of nuts and to press them against the glass'21 and in each of the side walls are secured the projections 43 and 44 which limit the downward movement of the 5 support 40. Pivotally secured in each of the side wall portions 11 and 12 is the flattened U- shaped rod 45 whichhas loosely secured around each end thereof the coiled springs 46 and 47, said springs having one of their ends hooked around the rod 45 as at 48 and 49 and the tively. This rod is so positioned as to cause the main central portion thereof to rest at the'junction point-between adjacent bags at all times when the ribbon of bags becomes stationary, which insures that the bags will be held in proper position to cause the knife and pusher to enter between adjacent bags and this rod is long enough sothat it is broader than the length of the bags which prevents the ends of the bags from touching the legs of the member 45, and when the peanuts are moved through the machine, it will ride over successive bags of nuts and depress said bags slightly to make room for itself betweenthe bags and the glass portion. 7 V

The said wall portions 11 and 12 have secured theretothe sinuous grooves 53 and 54 in which the ends ofa supporting member 55 for the knife and pusher is adapted to slide. This member 55 is secured to the flattened portion 56, which in turn is secured to the pusher member 57, said pusher member having the projecting members 57 a and 57?) which are curved downwardly around the back portion of the rod and slidably mounted with relation to the pusher member 57 is the knife member 58 which has the serrated cutting portion 59 on the front edge thereof, which knife portion has the projecting portions 61 and 62 which are bent around the rod 60 and adapted to move therewith at all times. The knife member 58 has the lip members 63 and 64 which are bent downwardly and beneath. the pusher member 57 and form a slide in which said pusher member operates. On the pusher member 58 and in close proximity to the member 56 there is secured the hook members 65 and 66, and on the central portion of the knife member 58 there is the downwardly proj ecting portion 67 which has two holes therethrough, through which the ends 68 and 69 of the spring member 7 0 project, and the other side of the spring member 70 is adaptedto rest in the hooks 65 and 66 sothat when the pusher member slides with relation to the knife member during the cutting operation the spring 70 will cause the parts to assume the original position as shown in all of the figures except Figure 3.

The rod 60 is rigidly secured in the arm 71 which projects downwardly and has its lower end lessened in dimensions to penetrate the tubular member 72 and the rod 73 and a pin 7 4' projects through the members 71, 72 and 73 tosecure the same together. On the end of the rod 7 3 there is secured the crank 75 and the other end of the rod 73 is hollowed out and is interiorly threaded to receive the bolt 7 6 which secures the mechanism in position. The U-shaped cam members 77 and 7 8 also penetrate the members 72 and 73, thus aiding in holding the parts together. A coiled spring 79 is secured around one end of the member 72 and one end of the coil spring is hooked over one leg of the member 7 7 as at 80, and the other end of said coil spring rests on the bottom member 10 as at 81, the function of said spring being to return the parts from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 1.

To the rearward of the tubular member 72 and associated parts there is pivotally mount-. edin each of the side walls the flattened U- shaped member 82 which'has the cross-rod 83 secured therein with the depressed portion 84,tbe member 71 having a cavity 85 therein in which the member'82 fits when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 3.

Near the front portion of the machine and in close proximity to the bottom member 10 there is the rod 86 which acts as a pivot point for the door 87, the upper end of the door 87 being adapted to fit against the gasket 88 which is securedto the member'27 to form a seal'for the interior of the machine and the ends of said door member also being provided to fit against gaskets 88a secured to the side nouns wall portions 11 and 12. On the rear side of the door 87 there is the lug 89 in which the member 90 is hooked, and the other end of the member 90 is hooked around the portion 84 of the rod 83 whereb the door is operated to open or closed position by the other mechanism, as when the crank 75 is pulled upward to the positon shown in Figure 3, the member 82 will hold the end bag of peanuts 92 and prevent the same from sliding forward and as it moves backward the door 87 will be opened to receive the falling bag 92 and deliver the same to the exterior of the machine. The transversely disposed rod 93 is secured in the side walls 11 and 12 and has the coiled springs 94 and 95 secured therearound, one end of said coiled springs being secured to the rod 93 and the other end of said coiled springs being hooked beneath the projections 97 and x 98 in the side walls, said rod 93 having the members 99 and 100 integral therewith and projecting downward to press against the bag 92 and retard its forward travel for a portion of its forward travel and then the bag 101 will be pulled beneath the members 99 and 100 as shown in Figure 3 and when the knife and pusher mechanism recede to their normal positions the members 99 and 100 will assume the position shown in Figure 1 and hold the bag 101 in the position in which 92 is shown as being held.

The rod 86 has the coiled spring 102 mounted therearound, one end of the spring resting on the bottom and the other end pressing against the door 87 to close the door when the knife and pusher recede to normal position.

The rod 71 has rigidly secured therein the flexible rod 103 which has the hammer 101 on its end and secured some distance from the bottom 10 is the bell 105 which has the projection 106 secured on the top thereof and the projection 106 projects slightly into the path of travel of the rod 103 so that when the rod 71 recedes to its normal position the rod 5 103 will be momentarily detained by the propection 106 and when it slips by the end of projection 106 the hammer 104 will strike the bell to indicate to the Storekeeper that the machine is being operated.

The method of operation of my device is as follows:

With the parts as shown in Figure 3 the cover is raised and the reel removed and the uunpartment 33 is loaded with a ribbon of bags and with their edges disposed in close proximity to each other, and then the reel 32 is reinserted in its bearings and the ribbon of bags passed over the movable support 40, beneath the spring pressed ribbon and also beneath the linger members 99 and 100 to the position shown in Figure 3 and then when the crank 75 is released, the parts will assume the position shown in Figure 1. Now, when the crank 75 pulled forward. again, the

pusher member 57 will be guided upwardly and forwardly by the member traveling in the grooves 513 and 54 and this pusher member will press against the point intermediate the edges of bags 92 and 101 and working against the pressure exerted on the finger members 99 and 100 the whole ribbon of bags will be advanced forwardly, and when the pusher member reaches the slot 29 the progress of the ribbon of bags and the pusher member will cease, but on the further pulling of the crank 75 the knife member 158 and associated parts, except the pusher member 57, will move forwardly, the knife sliding with relation to the pusher member and the bag 92 will be severed by said knife, and during the above-described movement, the rod 82 will move upwardly and backwardly and will open the door 87 so that the bag 92 will fall downwardly thereon and slide to the exterior of the machine and then the crank will be released and the spring 79 will return the knife and pusher member to the position shown in Figure 1 and the finger members 99 and l00wil1 press the ba 92 downwardly to the position shown in igure 1, and the above-described action can be repeated for the sale of the bags.

Although I have shown my device operated with the crank 7 5 secured to the rod 73, I desire it to be understood that any suitable coin-controlled mechanism may be placed between said crank and the rod 73 so that the machine can beoperated as a coin-controlled machine without changing the structure as above set forth.

In the drawings and specification I have set forth a preferred embodiment of my inventiomand although specific terms areemployed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, thescope of the invention being set forth in theappended claims I claim:

1. In a vending machine, a storage compartment in which a plurality of objects secured to each other in ribbon form, are adapted tobeistored, means for conveying ;the ribbon of (bags to the front portion of the machine, seyering means adapted to sever one bag at a time fromtheribbonof bags, and a closure for said machine, means connecting said closure to said severing means, to open said closure previously to the severing of a bag to form a sloping shelf to deliver the bag to the. exterior of the machine.

2. In a vending machine, a. storage compartment in which a plurality of objects secured to each other in ribbon form, are adapted to be stored, means for conveying the ribbon of bags to the front portion of the machine, severing means adapted to sever one bag at a time from the ribbon of bags, a closure for said machine pivotally mounted at its lower edge, means connecting said closure to said severing means to open said closure previously to the severing of a bag to form a sloping shelf to deliver the bag to the exterior of the machine and said door being adapted to close after the bag is severed.

3. In a vending machine for bags of peanuts and other bulk edibles, said bags being secured to a continuous ribbon, a storage compartment, a resilient support for supporting the ribbon of bags on their travel from the storage compartment to the delivering apparatus, a reciprocating pusher member adapted to engage the ribbon be tween the bags and simultaneously propel the ribbon of bags through the machine and hold the bags in position, and a knife member slidably mounted with relationto the pusher member, said knife member being adapted to sever'the end bag from the ribbon for delivery to the exterior of the machine, said means comprising a swinging door member which is adapted to be normally closed and which is adapted to be operated by the means for operating the pusher and knife member to an open position to form a chute on which the separate bag will fall and slide to the exterior of the machine.

4. A vending machine comprising a casing, a compartment in said casing for storing a ribbon to which is secured a plurality of spaced bags, sinuous slots in the side wall portions of the machine, a transversely disposed rod mounted in said slots and being adapted to support one end of a pusher member, a crank for operating a transversally disposed member, an arm secured on said member, the other end of the said member being supported by the end of said arm,a knife member pivotally mounted on the end of said arm and being slidably mounted with relation to the pusher member, resilient means between the pusher member and the knife member, said pusher and knife members being adapted to be advanced along the slots to engage the ribbon between the bags and to advance the ribbon through the machine, slotted means secured to the front side wall portion of the machine, against which the pusher member is adapted to push the ribbon of bags andremain stationary while the knife member slides forward with relation to the pusher member to sever the end bag from the ribbon to allow the said bag to be delivered to the exterior of the machine.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. AARON A. KNEE. 

